Education in Mississippi facts for kids

Formal education in Mississippi started in the early 1800s with private schools. A public school system began during the Reconstruction era. This was a time after the American Civil War when the state's government was led by both white and Black lawmakers.

Throughout history, Mississippi has faced challenges in education. These include unfair treatment due to racial segregation (keeping people of different races apart) and not enough money for schools, especially those for Black students. Also, where people lived (rural areas) and a lack of strong commitment to funding education caused problems.

Today, Mississippi is working to improve its schools. The state aims to meet national learning standards and increase graduation rates. The Mississippi Legislature and Board of Education create rules to make classrooms better places to learn. In 2005, most students, both white and Black, attended public schools.

It's important to know that school corporal punishment (physical discipline, like paddling) is still common in Mississippi schools. In the 2011–2012 school year, more students were paddled in Mississippi than in any other U.S. state.

Who Leads Education in Mississippi?

The Mississippi Board of Education helps guide education in the state. This board has nine members. They choose the State Superintendent of Education. They also set rules for public schools and oversee the Mississippi Department of Education.

The Mississippi Constitution explains how these board members are chosen. The Governor appoints five members. These include one from each of Mississippi's three Supreme Court districts. Two other members appointed by the Governor are a school administrator and a public school teacher. The Lieutenant Governor appoints two more members, and the Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives appoints two more.

Education in Mississippi's Constitution

Mississippi's Constitution of 1868 was very important for education. It was the first state law to say that all children should have free public education. This constitution was written by a group of both white and Black leaders. It said there should be a "uniform system of free public schools" for all children aged five to twenty-one. These schools would be paid for by taxes or other means.

In 1870, new laws created school districts. These districts were watched over by an elected State Superintendent of Education and local county superintendents. Areas with at least 5,000 people could create their own school districts. They could also have longer school years, up to seven months.

The Constitution helped set up the public education system with these key ideas:

• Leadership: An elected state superintendent would oversee all public schools. A State Board of Education would also be formed. It would include the State Superintendent, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State.
• School Year: The school year had to be at least four months long. If a county didn't follow this rule, it would lose its share of school money and taxes.
• Funding: Schools got money from different sources. These included land sales, taxes on alcohol, fees for military exemptions, and donations. This money was invested, and the interest helped support the schools. A poll tax (a fee paid to vote) also helped fund education.

At this time, the state was mostly Protestant. The Constitution also made sure that public schools and their money were not controlled by any religious group. It stopped public schools from becoming Catholic schools.

African Americans and Education

Before the American Civil War, laws in Mississippi stopped both enslaved and free African Americans from getting an education. After the war, groups from northern Mississippi helped start schools for African-American youth. However, some white groups tried to control the education system to stop Black people from getting an education.

The 1868 Constitution did not force schools to be integrated (mixed-race). This was partly to get enough support to create the public school system at all. Each school district could choose if they wanted integrated or segregated schools. County superintendents were told to divide money equally between white and Black schools. However, Black schools historically received much less funding.

White schools often had better buildings and could offer better learning. In the 1870s, education for Black students became even harder. Violence broke out against efforts to educate African Americans. At the same time, the government cut funding for public schools, which made all schools less effective.

In 1886, State Superintendent J. R. Preston created new education rules. These rules slowly raised standards in classrooms. Teachers were paid more and had to pass exams to get their teaching licenses.